A Mango Shaped Space By Wendy Mass

Review of A Mango Shaped Space by Lola D.M.

***** (5/5 Stars)

      What if color had letters or sound had shapes? Well for 13 year old Mia they do. She has a rare condition called Synesthesia, or a way of experiencing two different senses at once, which can make letters and words have colors, feelings have shapes, shapes have sounds, etc. Mia didn't tell anyone until her parents got notification that she is failing math and French. When her parents found out, they start to bring her to these meetings with people that have her condition. Meanwhile, her best friend wasn't talking to her because she was upset that Mia didn't tell her about her Synesthesia sooner. Then there is Mia's new kitten, Mango, (who has the same eyes as recently dead grandfather, for whom she is still grieving) who is very ill, and to top it all off, Mia has suddenly become popular because of her condition. Life is so confusing for Mia these days. Will she ever get her friend back? Will Mango get better? How long will her popularity last? And what about that boy from the Synesthesia group that keeps emailing her? 

       Life is so much different with Synesthesia. Mia is an excellent painter because of it, but has other problems. I really enjoyed seeing life though the eyes of someone who sees the world in a very vibrant way. It really made me stop and think about the beautiful colors in our world. I read this after The Giver because I was so appalled that there wasn't any color. I had to read a book exploding with color.

     I suggest this to any one who wants to have a new way of looking at the world.